Mumbai, May 1 -- Malayalam star Nivin Pauly's "Malayalee from India" opened in cinemas worldwide on Wednesday, coinciding with Labour Day celebrations. The film was released amid high expectations and is touted to give Nivin a much-needed break in his career.

The filmmakers also marked "Malayalee from India" as "Nivin's comeback movie." A teaser released last year promised a film that would meet fans' expectations, leading many to believe it was an out-and-out comedy.

However, a teaser was released to temper expectations on the eve of the movie's release. Director Dijo Jose Antony claimed he released it to set the right tone and prevent disappointments. The teaser revealed a high-voltage political drama exploring themes of communal poli...